Le syndrome chinois

Titre original : The China Syndrome

1979
PG
2h 2min

NOTE IMDb

7,4/10

34 k

MA NOTE

Michael Douglas, Jane Fonda, and Jack Lemmon in Le syndrome chinois (1979)

Lire trailer2:03

2 Videos

99+ photos

Political Thriller Tragedy Drama Thriller

Un journaliste découvre ce qui semble être une tentative de dissimulation de risques dans une centrale nucléaire.Un journaliste découvre ce qui semble être une tentative de dissimulation de risques dans une centrale nucléaire.Un journaliste découvre ce qui semble être une tentative de dissimulation de risques dans une centrale nucléaire.

Voir les informations de production sur IMDbPro

NOTE IMDb

7,4/10

34 k

MA NOTE

Voir les informations de production sur IMDbPro

Nommé pour 4 Oscars
- 9 victoires et 16 nominations au total

Anecdotes
The first script for the film was written in the mid-1970s. Michael Douglas initially wanted to produce this film immediately after Vol au-dessus d'un nid de coucou (1975). Jack Lemmon agreed to play his role as early as 1976. Douglas was enormously grateful to Lemmon, as he remained ready to start work at very short notice for over a year before production started, in the process passing up other work. To return the favor, Douglas amended the shooting schedule to allow Lemmon to attend rehearsals for the Broadway play Un fils pour l'été (1980), the film version of which would later star Lemmon.

Gaffes
In the United States, there are two main types of commercial power reactors: PWR (Pressurized Water Reactor) and BWR (Boiling Water Reactor). When Gibson is explaining the basic workings of the plant to Kimberly Wells, the diagram on the board shows a PWR. This is indicated by the two-loop system in which the water is pumped through the reactor under high pressure to prevent boiling, then through a steam generator to create steam for the turbine using clean secondary water. Later, the dialog of the characters in the control room suggests they are dealing with a BWR, where water is allowed to boil in the reactor vessel, and steam is directly piped to the turbine, with no steam generator. Godell is concerned that the high water level in the reactor might reach the steam lines, of which there are none on a PWR vessel. Once Goddell and the operators realize the water level is low, the dialogue refers to Auxilary Feedwater, which is a PWR system. Also, in the action hearing later, the investigator talks about how the operators began cutting off feedwater and releasing steam in order to lower the reactor water level; this would happen only on a BWR.

Citations
Jack Godell: What makes you think they're looking for a scapegoat?
Ted Spindler: Tradition.

Crédits fous
The end credits run in total silence.

Connexions
Featured in The Making of 'The China Syndrome' (1979)

Bandes originales
Somewhere In Between
by Stephen Bishop

Avis des utilisateurs153

Commentaire à la une

10/10

What can really be said?

I normally don't comment on movies on IMDB, but in this case I feel like I should. I love movies, and I want to make them, and this movie is a perfect example of fine filmmaking.

This is one of the few movies that I have seen on the small screen (originally seeing it air on AMC, I believe, and then on the DVD I just watched) that made me get that feeling in the pit of my stomach. That little gnawing sensation that the director would hope you feel while watching his thriller.

Jack Lemmon's performance is a fine one, and Jane Fonda and Michael Douglas follow. I felt so much empathy of Lemmon, who's character Jack Godell, only wanted people to listen to his warning.

But what impresses me most about this film is the lack of a score, and this is also what makes it beautiful to me. Apart from the opening titles there are no background music to increase the tension, because none is needed. And while the credits run, white on black, in silence it drives the point home.

I use the movie as an example to anyone who says music makes the movie. I think the movie should make the movie and the music should only amplify that. But for The China Syndrome music is not necessary to get across the realism and the urgency depicted here. The characters portray all of this far better than the music ever could.

I highly recommend this movie, it is one of my favorites. If you like movies, you won't be disappointed. If you like movie soundtracks more, you might not want to give this one a go.